The Late Braking F1 Podcast - Hamilton wins thrilling first race! | 2021 Bahrain GP Review | Episode 109

Episode Date: March 28, 2021

What a start to the 2021 F1 season! Lewis Hamilton emerged victorious after a tense battle with Max Verstappen - the boys break down all the talking points from a eventful first race weekend.Make sure to SUBSCRIBE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. Thank you for listening to the Late Breaking F1 podcast. Make sure to look out for new episodes every Thursday and Grand Prix Sundays. Hello and a very warm welcome to the late breaking F1 podcast, the first review podcast of the 2021 season. And what a way to get this going. Sam Sage and Harry E with me is Lewis Hamilton, wins the first race in the season by just seven tenths ahead of Max Verstaffin.

And if you were listening to our preview podcast, you might well have heard the words of our very own Harry Eid, predicting that this Bahrain Grand Prix was going to be an absolute stinker. Harry, thank you for your services of being completely nut and wrong, because we were treated to a cracker between Verstaffin and Hamilton. You are all welcome. Never ever, ever bet with what Harry says. will be wrong every single time. And it was to our benefit this time. So unsurprisingly, the Vastappan and Hamilton battle is going to be our lead topic. Max, of course, getting past at turn four, but voluntarily giving up the position due to him going off track. We'll be discussing that one. Our driver of the day, worst driver of the day, moment of the race. That's on its way as well. Sergio Perez had a bit of recovery work to do in order to get back up to P5 in his debut. We'll

be discussing that one. And also, who had the best debut for a team? There were quite a few contenders out there. So we will start with Max and Hamilton. Max Verstappen at the end, suggesting that he should have not let Lewis Hamilton back past, taken a five second penalty given by the stewards in the hope that he would bridge that five second gap by the end of the race. Sam, do you think that that was a viable strategy? Should he have gone ahead with that? I'll get to start off actually first by addressing the rule itself in the when you're making a legal overtake and you don't give it back, you only get a five-second crime penalty. I think that is a ridiculous rule and that if you hold on to your position and you finish the racing head of that person, they should be swapped back on the gavelas.

I don't see why you should get a little fuck on the wrist for doing something illegal. Just get away with it. Moving on from that, oh! Sorry, just got a bed now. That was an absolute delta. I am so pumped. He's got every right in terms of the rule set as they are to say, I kick up all get out. you may as well let me pull it out. But at the same time, that Red Bull looked dominant.

It was a monster through that middle sector. He had pace all race long and realistically, probably should have got that Red Bull in front of the Versailles on track illegally, where it's fair. And I think Hamilton called it out correctly, the skewers called it out correctly. It was actions quickly and appropriately. And we got the fight that was fair, legal and on track. It was pretty mental. And I feel like Max Osser Staffen probably could have got past him again, you know, oh, it's the tyres all over the place. It was ambitious to say, though, that you can put out a five second lead where the tyres were clearly dying off very quickly.

And it showed once again, Hamilton was able to just to cling on to tyres. He was able to make them work much like Sergio Perez, you know, king of the tire, making the tyres last. It's hard to predict the future. It's hard to, you know, see the other scenarios that went there. Max did the right thing by letting Hamilton go back through and then challenging him again. Unfortunately, it didn't go Max's way, which is a shame. But I'd rather see that six, seven, tenth battle right down to the wire,

then sit there watching Max slowly pull out a league with nothing really happening. I think just watching a clock. That isn't as exciting for me. So in terms of race viewership, I think it went the right way. I think it made it very exciting, very enjoyable, loved watching that end or the best ends to a race we've seen for a long time, whereas I think it if it had gone the other way,

it might have been a bit of a snooze fest. We might just go, oh, it was only 4.7. So Max loses on a time thing, which, yeah, has excitement. it's own right that not the same way as an on-track battle can have, I don't think. Do you think that there was any merit in Vastappan keeping that lead, Harry, or do you think he did the right thing and obeyed the stewards? Yeah, I don't know if I... No, I do agree with Sam.

I'm not sure if he could have pulled out that five-second gap. I know it was a monster in that middle sector, but, yeah, that's quite ambitious because there weren't many laps to go. I think what's quite telling here is how quick, I know they got a message from race control supposedly, but it's how quickly Red Bull reacted and told them to give the position back. Because they've, with Max, they've definitely been stung with this in the past. And I think that's also then telling of where the trouble lies with these track limit rules

that we're having to do this. But yeah, I think it was the right decision to hand the place back. I'm sure Max felt he could. could have pulled the gap out, but yeah, I think it would have been a tough ask. Yeah, it's just frustrating when we get things decided by that, but, you know, it was a fantastic race, so I can't complain about the result at all. I think the only thing that I would point out, this is a point made by Brundle in the commentary was he should have given it back in a different place.

You should have given it back on the main straight and then pop back in the DRS again, straight after where he did it, he then had to go through middle sector where, you know, turbulent air was tough and then he went wide and then ruined his ties. So, yeah, but, you know, that's heat of the moment decision. But yeah, I think overall the right decision. I'm sure they'll be frustrated. But it's tantalizing prospect for the rest of the year, isn't it? Yeah, absolutely. For me, that's the number one takeaway from this, is that if we can get that repeated a few times over, no one will be complaining whatsoever. I think Max, for Stappen had a decision to make in that moment and it was a very much a heat of the moment kind of thing.

He had to make the decision, what was more realistic? Was it more realistic that he would pull out the five second gap? Or was it more realistic that he would get another opportunity to overtake Lewis Hamilton and get it done? So he had to make the decision which one was more likely. And for me, he made the right decision. I think it was more likely that he was going to make that overtake again rather than pull out that five second gap. He was, at that point in the race, he was not lapping a ridiculous amount quicker than Lewis Hamilton. And I don't think he would have had enough, even with Lewis Hamilton's aging tires.

You know, I get your point on where he should have done it. I think he would have been better served by doing it elsewhere. However, you know, it is a heat at the moment thing. So I'm not going to blame him too much for that. We know that, you know, Lewis Hamilton himself has been at the second. of that type of controversy before. If you cast your minds back to, I believe it was the Belgian Grand Prix, you might remember that Lewis Hamilton had a thing where he was forced to give a position

back, didn't give it enough back before making the overtake again, and was consequently penalised for it post-race. Of course, Vestappen didn't want to fall into that same trap. So I can understand him being cautious with doing it, but, you know, I think part of this is on the step, and I think he should have absolutely had the pace to do it again. And the lap after he handed the place back,

I think probably the two laps after, were very scruffy to the point where he lost DRS down the main straight one time, only just claimed it for that last lap. You know, if he's within sort of six temps rather than 1.1 seconds, then suddenly, you know, the DRS does the work for you to an extent and he gets another opportunity into turn four perhaps,

or even turn one again. So I think Vastappen made the right call. There's also the fact that you have to bear in mind here of the stewards. We've complained a lot of the time that the stewards are inconsistent. They can be a bit all over the place with the penalties. You are essentially putting your race in the hands of the gods at that moment. You have to say it might be a five second penalty that they give you. It's the stewards.

They might have given him a drive-through. They might have given him a seven-race ban. It's the stewards. You can't predict what they're going to do. So I completely understand them taking matters into their own hands and making Vestappan make that move rather than relying on the stewards somewhat. I mean, in terms of the overall race, because if we look back to, say, lap 12, lap 13, Vastappan had a,

I think it was about a one and a half second gap over Lewis Hamilton before Hamilton went in for his first pit stop. The guys then went on their own separate ways in terms of strategy and it's come back. And obviously the Mercedes-Hamilton as well, one. Do you think that this is a massive missed opportunity for Sam? Do you think this? You really missed a trick there, Sam. You really missed the trick.

What have I been doing the whole winter season? I've been building up to this. I've missed out. I'm guessing. Do you think it was a missed opportunity for Max, comma, Sam, question mark? Sentencing structure is important, kids. Yes, I think it's a massive missed opportunity. But I also think it shows credit and pays credit. the ability of Lewis Hamilton. If Max was driving, I think, against Bottas in that scenario, against Perez and that scenario, against LeCler in that scenario, I think Max wins this race. I think it really does show the ability of Lewis Hampton there and there.

I think it looked like it was all going Red Bull's way. And then, I think the thing is called the cheeky fast one. I don't think anyone's expecting a proper three-stop to be in the question. The double hard tire option to be apparent, no one's really been talking about how viable the hard tire is being always. care. But all of a sudden, Lewis Hamilton goes in, he knocks out a two-second a lap faster time than that just happened, and then pull out a six and a half second lead. He plays off for that first thing. Hamilton can't tend those ties brilliantly the whole way through the rest of the

race and is able to eke out that performance right to the end. And I think the Stappen, realistically, it was all Red Bull of the Stappen's race to lose, and they did lose it. It fell apart for the right of the death there, which is a real shame because it was going to be super cool to go the second road to the season with someone other than the saying is leading the championships. But hey-ho, I think that Red Bull had a pretty stellar chance to Himala.

It suits them. Yeah, I think Red Bull threw this one away a little bit. I feel like they could have done that. It's a little bit more. A little bit more on the ball, a little bit more on the edge, and they probably would have taken this one home. As we saw, seven-tenths separated them. All they had to do is one lap,

probably slightly better. And it would have gone their way. What do you reckon, Harry, do you think this was a missed opportunity for them? Yeah, I think they'll definitely really not taking the win but I think they even in their

in Red Bull's minds they knew it wasn't going to be easy they weren't going to just run away from from Hamilton you know they if they could run away from Botas

you know potentially yes but not not Lewis Hamilton I'm afraid so I don't think they'll be obviously disappointed I don't think they'll be really disappointed to have lost it especially considering

the pace that they've got in that car you know I think they're going to like as fans we are I think they'll be very encouraged at how close that win was and how much, you know, it was not only one, but it was won in the most part by Lewis

Hamilton, not necessarily by the fast Mercedes car. So I think Rebel would be encouraged by that. Yeah, you know, it's another, and this will get on to Perez, and I'm not blaming him necessarily, but it's the issue again where he was ganged up on

by two Mercedes and there's only one Max for Staffen, unfortunately. There's only one, Max. for Steppe? Sorry, it sounds like a classic football champ. Absolutely, lad. Yeah, they need a Perez there. Well, they just need another red ball there, basically. But yeah, I think that'll come this year. So, you know, it's a missed opportunity, but I think, you know, the way things are shaping up, it may not be a really costly one. You know, I'm going to be completely honest here.

And, you know, we do record this pretty much straight after the ground. on Pri. So maybe my opinion changes on this one. I've had a bit more of a think about it. But I think Red Bull nailed it. I think they absolutely nailed it, which could be the most frustrating thing for them. And it could also be the most concerning thing for them as well. I think they, in terms of a strategy, got it absolutely spot on in that, you know, Lewis Hamilton came into the pits first of that leading three. I think it was about lap 13 or so that he came into the pits. It would have been very easy for Red Bull to respond straight away to that, be goaded into that strategy that clearly they did didn't think was right. They ended up, you know, not falling for that. So, you know,

hurdle one, complete in that respect. And they, they ended up going about sort of six laps or so more, maybe not quite that many. Actually, four or five laps more because they felt that that was the, that was the strategy for them. You know, if you look at the, the stints for the teams, you know, Max Verstappen did 17 laps on the medium tire. He then goes to another set of mediums, which he does a good job on again, goes about 21 laps or so on those, and then closes out with a hard stint of about 17, 18 laps. So he pretty much evenly split it across, you know, those stints. I think they had a very clear idea of what the ideal strategy was,

and they played to it perfectly. I don't think they were brought into the games that Mercedes were playing here. And you look at Mercedes, conversely, I actually think they didn't nail this. You think that they, for Lewis Hamilton, did 13 laps on the first medium stint, that essentially leaves them with 43 laps to do, and two sets of hard tires to do it on. Now, if you're thinking about this rationally, you would say, okay, 43 laps to do two hard stints, 22 laps and then 21 laps, you'd say, or something like that.

Mercedes had Lewis Hamilton do the first stint of 15 laps, and then the second stint was 28 laps, so they didn't split it very evenly between those two stints at all, and it forced Lewis Hamilton, of course, to pull it out the bag on that final hard run. So, you know, I think Red Bull actually strategically did a fine job. considering Perez wasn't in the picture. And it still wasn't enough. And I will say, I think part of it is Max Verstappen not getting the overtake done. I think a large part of it is Lewis Hamilton.

That was one of his most impressive wins in recent times. I really think that was one of his better ones. So, you know, it's a long list of good wins. He's had as well. So, yeah, fair play to him. I think they missed an opportunity, but Lewis Hamilton, 28-lap-old hard tires. he had to pull it out of the bag and he did. It was a corker.

I'm glad. I'm just glad we're back. Sorry, folks. I'm trying to calm down. I am so pumped that we are back for the new season. It's great. I mean, your sentiment is shared across all three of us and perhaps a few million more as well. Touched the focus on Valtry Bottas for a moment.

He got the fastest lap of the race, so he took home 16 points rather than 15. He finished third, of course, on the podium. Wasn't really a factor. He was a few seconds back from those leading two. The 10 second pit stop, of course, completely ruined any chance of him being a factor for the rest of the race. But his strategy was largely the same as Lewis Hamilton, apart from that pit stop at the very end there to get the fastest lap.

Sam, do you think it would have been worth Bottas going perhaps a little bit longer on that first stint than he did? Bottas wasn't in the picture from the moment the lights went green. He wasn't good enough for the majority of the weekend, I don't think. he was what three four tenths away from lewis hamilton qualifying and then come the start of the race he gets jumped by lecler he's being challenged by norris there is already difficulty there for him and he has to take those positions back i think a boss had had to oh maybe wouldn't have had the guts to dive it down and get those positions down and dusting as quickly as he did so that's good to see him really making the moves to get back into third

but after that he was never in that conversation he was a slight threat but seven eight seconds back from the race leaguer isn't enough for an undercut isn't enough to try something different the strategy. He got, you know, obviously, throwing under the bus a little bit with a difficult pit strategy there, extra 10 seconds in the boxes, never what anyone needs. But that race was out the door for him. I don't think even if the pits have been exactly the same times as Lewis Hamilton's, he would have challenged. To me, it just cemented what had already happened for him. He was ever going to be viable for a third place. He was not good enough today. There was no selfish attitude. And if he wants to keep that seat going into next season, I know it's just so only the first phrase at this season, but this was not the way to kickstart things. Botas needs to do better than

this. And it wasn't good enough for me. I don't really care about the scratchy. He wasn't good enough anyway. What do you reckon, Harry, do you think it would have been worth Mercedes putting a bit of variety into their strategies, maybe a one stop or a more concerted three stop for him? I mean, from Mercedes point of view, no, it doesn't really matter because he came home and third, he was going to come home in third anyway with the pace he had. I think, you know, Valtrey has already, and Sam Stott's from this, Valtry said again before the season, you know, he's going to be more demanding this year and, you know, question calls if they come in. When Hamilton came in and it was clear what he was doing, why, you know, why then when they called him Valtry into do it, you know, pretty much the same strategy? Why then didn't he say, I mean, we didn't necessarily hear it, he might question it, but normally that would be picked up. Why didn't he say, no, I don't, I want to do something. I want to do something. different, like maybe do something different than what most is doing because, yeah, I know the pit stop was long anyway, but it was worth a punt from where he was. He was in no man's land. He was far behind the top two and he was well in front of Norris and fourth. So why he didn't try and go for that, that's always, you know, kind of the issue with Valtrey is just a little bit too nice. Too nice for a little bit too nice for a good. Yeah, but, you know. Yeah, you're nice person. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Nice botty. No more nice potty please. Yeah, it's just a bit of a shame. But, you know, he was, in the early stages, he was, for Mercedes, he was there, he did the job he needed to being that two-pronged attack of a snap. And then once he was kind of out of the picture, they just shoved him on the same strategy as Hamilton. And, you know, it's an easy third place.

So, yeah, he was never in the picture. But I do think he should have tried. from his point of view, try to, you know, do something different because it wasn't going to do anything other than to bring home a third place for him. Yeah, I mean, as much as the attention towards Mercedes, you know, having a favourite driver or not, I actually think they play things down the middle a lot of the time. And today they did again. And I don't think it was actually to their own benefit. I don't think it would have made a difference regardless of what strategy Valtrey Bottas was on. but they at least could have put a bit of variety in there for the sake of they had two drivers against one. You know, Max Vastappen is only one man, as much as he tries to be more than that.

Yeah, exactly, exactly. So he can only commit to one strategy. Lewis Hamilton, by pitting early, had committed to his. I think it would have been worth them trying something different to beat Vastappen. Obviously, they did anyway by, you know, going with the same strategy and fair enough. But, you know, I think it would have been worth them trying something different at least, whether that was a one stop or a three stop. Technically, they did three stop, but it was only because of that late pit stop to fit on the soft tires. I will say about the pit stop, it's absolutely not an excuse for Valtrey Botas, and I really hope that he doesn't lean on it because, you know, there isn't a good time to do a 10 second pit stop.

But if you are going to pick a time, they pretty much pick the best possible time because he was finished. finishing third regardless of whether that pit stop was 10 seconds, 15 seconds or two seconds. So, you know, it didn't really make much of a difference. He wasn't going to be a factor anyway. So I hope he doesn't lean on it. And I hope he sort of takes this on the chin and realizes it was his own pace. I'd like to see them try something a bit different. It's credit to Lewis Hamilton that, you know, they won when they didn't actually try something different.

So, yeah, maybe Mercedes were in these two-on-one scenarios, particularly because they know this year is going to be a bit closer than last the year in the year before. Maybe it's worth them exploring a bit more. Driver of the day, Sam, who have you got? There is about 27 drivers that could be driving the day to get, which is amazing because there's only 20 drivers on the grid. How many races

have been watching? Honestly, the spread was brilliant. We got some great performances up and down the field. There were some ambitious, great moves by Alonkso, P.S. folks. A longso is back. The cheeky little moves that he was chucking down the inside were great to say.

Yeah, best of all do the two-time world champ dance, everyone. I'll try you back, left and right. You know, which is great to see. Godlaclure, stuck it somehow in four for qualifying, and they hang on, very good race going throughout the whole race. Lando Norris, it was like for top three, and then Norris is F1.5 now, and then the rest of the green is F1.8,

and then you obviously have F2, which is the other sport, which is, it was amazing. It was absolutely brilliant. Perez, from Pit Lane to fifth. The man loves going from last place to achieving great things. And I don't care where other junior red ball drivers are finished in that red ball seat, that second red ball seat. That man with confidence executing a brilliant race.

And I'm really excited to see what he can do with a fully working car. Max was great, not great enough to take the win. But Lewis Hamilton, his driver of the day, because that was, if you've got a seven-time world champion, if you've got something that's won over 90 Grand Prix and you're sat there going, that was one of the best races we've seen that man do in a long time. oh then what more do you need is a couple of them it was brilliantly done he was the underdog today they were not the favourite to do it they only won because of his driving ability and it was brilliant to watch from start to finish

hope him max fantastic up and down that race i absolutely loved it i was in the edge of my seat so much in it and i was whooping and hollering for both of them the whole way through that last man it was brilliant and thank you to them the honest take for me how would the plus take part of the day for you harry I mean, I absolutely concur with all of Sam's points there, and I'm going to agree, I'm going to go for Hamilton, because as we already mentioned, it was him that won the race for Merck. Other mention is little Yuki Sonoda for absolutely,

absolutely planting one on Fernando Alonzo from miles back. Like, not many people do that. He started that move in my kitchen. Exactly. I think the only other person who's done, than that is his fellow countryman to Kumasato. So yeah, that was a great, great little battle there. But yeah, I'm going to settle for Hamilton. But yeah, it was great because there are so many contenders for driver of the day. Yeah, for me, it's a coin flip between two drivers. The driver that you've both given it to, Lewis Hamilton.

Of course, he did an exceptional job there. But I am going to give it to someone else. I'm going to go for Lando Norris. beating Daniel Ricardo by 20 seconds is no mean feat whatsoever. That is seriously impressive. I don't care if it's Daniel Ricardo's first race in the McLaren. That is a statement of a performance from Lando Norris. I was super impressed with what he was able to do out there. You know, they were in somewhat of a tussle in the first lap. They were side by side for what seemed like about half the lap.

And Lando Norris proved in that moment that he wasn't going to give away the position. He wasn't going to let him as the more experienced driver stroll past. He, you know, he stuck his elbows out and he proved that, you know, I've been the one here for the last few years. I've got a future in the sport. Lano Norris for me, exceptional performance to finish forward. From good to bad, worst driver of the day, Sam. Well, we spoke about Valtry Bottas. I'm hoping I kicked the start of the season with a Valtry Bossass's worst driver day. We've got 22 other races. We'll catch up. Don't worry. Fleming a time for it, folks. I've got to give it to Sebi Bet.

Sorry, Seby Bet. You've literally just absolutely bum-punted O'Conn off the track at one point. I've said bum, because there's another rude word that I could have said. The bum is completely appropriate. You have literally, and then you've moaned about it. Like it's O'Conn's fault. Oh, he broke for the corner and changed the line. Plays O'Cong's camera driving a straight line on the racing line. Vettel was nowhere in comparison to his team, mate. And, okay, we do expect the new drivers to be slightly behind the guys that are used to the team in the car. There's a tough start, but did not make the moves I expected him to make first off.

It did get stuck in with some moves, but he was left out to draw on this awful strategy, which, you know, he's got the experience to call some shots and get in there, like a longso was doing on his first race backing for millennia. And then, to mask his Vettel, what did he fall asleep? Was he playing a video game? What was he doing? Was he on the phone? He literally rear-ending O'Con into Imola for the next race. And it was awful.

So I think, Saraski-Vetter, worst-grover-day. Yeah, I mean, vicious swerve by O'Con on the start-finished way there. Harry, who have you got for worst-tribor-the-day? I'm going to give it to Nikita Mazurzspin because a lot of a lot of chat about Mazepin over the winter. and, you know, he is responded by saying, I'll do my talking out on the track. And quite frankly, Nikita, all you've done is spin every session. Yeah, it's got a bit.

I think Seb at least did some good moves earlier in the race to not be. It might be not be worse the day. But, yeah, Mazepin was, and that house is obviously tricky to drive because Schumack also had the spin. Where was he going? Where was he off to? That was hilarious to watch in the background. Yeah, Barang,

I'm not sure. Yeah, but Mazpim for me. Yeah, I mean, if we're going with the theory that Nikita Mazepin is going to do his talking on the track, he literally said, blab-blah, I mean,

that was not, that was not a pretty drive, mainly because it didn't last very long. I had two names down, and you've given them both, Mazapin and Vessel. I will, I'll give it to Vettel,

just because it was Mazepin's first race in Formula One. It was not a good debut. I'm struggling to think the last time a debut went that poorly, but it was a debut nonetheless. Vettel, it was not his debut. It was for Astor Martin, but he's actually been in Formula One for a bit longer than this one race, if you didn't know.

He's been around for a while, and he ultimately ruined his chances of points. You know, I think he made decent recovery. He tried something of it different. Pretty much everyone else was tied. to a two-stop. He tried a one-stop. Whether that was driver-led, whether that was team-led, I'm not sure. I think given his starting position, it was probably worth trying something.

I don't think that Aston Martin has quite got the pace of, like, Perez, where he was able to recover from a bad position. I don't think on an ordinary strategy, Vettel would have done exactly the same thing. So I can understand why they tried something different. And ultimately, you know, he was making his way through the field and he made an error that cost him massively. And he ended up finishing in 15th place when, yeah, I think, you know, he had a chance at least with the Alfa Mayo's towards the end of the Grand Prix. If he doesn't collide with Ocon, has a chance possibly at P10. Who knows if it happens or not, but he at least needs to give himself the opportunity by not crashing into someone.

So, yeah, Vettled for me. Moment of the race, Sam. It's definitely got to be the moment that Mick Schumack in the background is, no, I'm joking. I'm joking. Sorry, Mick. Sorry. Sorry. No, it's going to be the moment, of course, that Max of Staffing attempted to pass Lewis Hamwitton going around the outside. Of course, trap limits. That corner have been a huge cause for debate, probably over the last 12 months in terms of speaking about Bahrain. It's a silly corner. Why do we have to go off one way? And then you see the pop back on on camera and it's quite funny. And they were decided, no, no, no, we can't have that anymore. And then Max paid the price.

And clearly it was a bit confusing for a lot of the drivers throughout the whole weekend. And that deciding it. That was what changed the... the shape of the race. It seemed like it was a slam dunk from Max for Staffing. He was going to come down to start, finish straight, outbreak Lewis Hamilton on dead tires.

And that was going to be it, race written. But that set us up for a brilliant last three or four laps of absolute hysteria, neck to get racing. It was brilliant to watch. And that is what this, I think that is going to be

the metaphor for this season, I hope, of pushing it to the edge, wheel to wheel, can't wait for it, get your nature of the seat, shouting at the screen. And that's what I want, every race and they deliver it.

It was brilliant. And I absolutely loved it. moment of the race harry um i mean yeah agree with sam there to for the sake of variety i will go for um the alonzo signs vettel battle that we had about midrace which was spicy um yeah i love that and it was all fair fair and clean and it was you know um bit poetic you had former Ferrari driver versus former Ferrari driver versus new Ferrari driver so um yeah and it was a great battle so i'll go for that one for me, but yeah, lots to choose from, I think.

Yeah, I'm going to go for, you know, the moment in the race where I heard something in the kitchen, went over, see what was going on. Yuki, where have you gone? What are you doing, mate? There was someone standing in my kitchen. Oh, you know, I know who that is. And he's like, hello, Ben.

I'm like, Yuki. And then he's like, you know what, I'm going to go for here. I can see Alonzo, just in a few countries over there. I'm going to go for it. And he did. He absolutely sends it down. What a moon. What a statement.

It says a lot that when we, because obviously we didn't catch it live because we don't catch things live, we saw it on the replay. I thought, okay, I'm not quite sure why we're viewing this. I think they've got the wrong lap possibly or the wrong corner. Have they got the wrong people? That's Yuki Sonoda. Oh, oh, okay. No, he's going for this. That's impressive.

Yeah. Well done, Yuki. That was a good move. Let's move on to Sergio Perez, his debut in the Red Bull. It went swimmingly. Didn't make Q3 and then pulled over to the side of the track on the formation lap. Fortunately for him, he was able to keep it going enough for him to start in the pit lane. Memories of Sequeer, obviously last year. Wasn't able to deliver the win this time around, but he did recover back to P5 behind Lando Norris and P4.

So, Harry, do you think that Perez did enough on his debut? Yeah, I think he did. And I don't think we should even be questioning. I think he could have had a terrible race. And you can't just say he's got a go already. But I think I... Yeah, come on, Dornboss. Yeah, I think yesterday was unfortunate.

You know, it was a... He had one lap time deleted, you know, which is his own fault. He shouldn't have gone wide. and then he didn't get to recover. I can't remember if he got caught out with the yellow. Was he? No, no, kind of been.

That was Q1. Anyway, yeah, look, it was, it wasn't a great Saturday. But he recovered well today. And it was a drive that you'd exactly expect from, from Sergio Perez. It was a coming through the field drive that he's done so many times in the past in a racing point. So I didn't really expect anything less. You know, he, I think if he'd started. actually started in the position he was supposed to start,

and he would have at least got fourth. But considering where he was by the end of lap one, I think, yeah, I think fifth was a pretty solid result for him. So, yeah, I don't think that, you know, there's any doubts about his skills in that car. And, you know, qualifying pace will only improve as the year goes on. So, yeah, it was a good drive, good recovery from Checo, I think.

Did Perez do enough for you on debut, Sam? Well, Sassegay was difficult. But there's one thing I want to take away on the Sasko performance is that we've seen it a lot with the second Red Bulls seat over the last couple of years. When they are struggling to make it into Q3, you'll often see them come back out on the soft tire. They get sent back out on the different strategy to Max. And I was expecting the same thing with Perez. And out he rolls again, on another set of mediums. And I had to commend one, the confidence of Sergio is not getting himself down.

He knows what he can do, which is great. And the Red Bull are confident in him as doing so. I think that's really positive to seeing. I think give it a couple of races, and that will come to fruition. He will be there comfortably in those top four or five spots on a regular basis. Perez can qualify. He is a fast driver. We know that.

We've got that confidence in him. And then, when you're on your formation lap, your car literally goes and turns itself off. It's like someone pulled it out the wall. And he was like, right, out of the steering wheel hasn't got any lights on it anymore. And he sat there doing control, alt delete regime. on his steering wheel down the main straight of a Bahrain racetrack, which is impressive enough as it is. Starts on the pit lane, which has got to be pretty frazzling.

It's got to really throw you off, I imagine. You know, that's your race prep out the window. He cuts through the field so well, like a knife through butter, executes a really good strategy, finds himself in fifth place behind Langell Morris, who was absolutely driving a dream today. It was brilliantly done by Lando. I don't think he would have got in front of Lando,

realistically, unless he had started himself in 11-10 place. Perez is in everything he needs to do in my opinion under really tricky circumstances. I think this is the right way to go. It's almost he can continue to improve that and he can get himself in the mix and we see kind of by the third or fourth race of the season he is comfortable in that car

and regularly in the top four, I'm very happy where Perez is going. This was a very positive start to how Perez should be doing in a Red Bull. And if you're questioning, he should be getting fired after one race because, oh, it wasn't a podium, then I don't want to hear your opinions in Formula One

because we can set the same thing about Gasoline. we said the same thing about album. I mean, you've made the point there that, Harry, that, you know, if he starts in P-11 where he should have done, he makes P-4. Arguably, he could have still started in the pit lane and not had that pit stop after two laps to go onto the same tire compound. If he didn't have that, he probably would have finished P-4 as well. So I think, you know, given the circumstance, he did a good job.

I mean, it's focused on qualifying for a second. Yeah, I agree with what you said, Sam, that, you know, it shows confidence. that they've got in him that he went back out on the mediums. I'm glad, even though it didn't come to fruition this time around, I'm glad they did go ahead with that. You know, I think Perez's call offang is arguably his weakest, you know, weakest thing about his driving. So it would be good to see him improve that as the year goes on,

but it is race one, so not overly concerned, concerned by that at all. And ultimately, actually, he was only a few tents behind Vastappen on the run before, you know, his time got deleted. So I think that Bojjjj, pretty well for the season going ahead. In terms of the race, you know, yeah, he did a good job to get back up to P5.

I think his margin for error is arguably less than it would have been if he joined the team, say, last year. Ultimately, you know, Alex Albin being in that second seat and not delivering as, you know, they might have hoped. Didn't really cost the team at all last year

because they would have finished second regardless whether he performed well, poorly, or something in between. This season, though, it does seem as if, if Red Bull have a legitimate chance to win the championship, therefore they need Perez to be firing on all cylinders much quicker than they would have needed Albon to. So, you know, he's going to need the results sooner rather than later.

But having said that, you know, he's going to need a couple of races to warm to the seat and get used to it. And, you know, the race itself, I think it's difficult to make any sort of comparison between Vastappan and Perez because for the most part, Vastappan had clear track and he was able to just do his own thing, whereas Perez was overtaking the car every two seconds. making a comparison there between the time difference, just doesn't make much sense.

What I will say, though, is I was keeping a close eye on the laps before Vastappen came into the pits for the first time that is. So Vastappen came into the pits, I think on lap 17. And Perez had just done enough by about 13, lap 14, to have some clear track. Perez matched Vestappen across those four or five laps. There wasn't anything in between them at all. So that bodes pretty well, but when the two had the opportunity of clean air, there wasn't actually a lot between them. I think Perez is going to be fine for this year, and he's done for me.

He's shown more than enough for me on this first race weekend. Extending it out a bit further to other drivers that made their debut for a team or indeed made their debut in the sport, I haven't counted them up, but there were quite a lot out there. Sam, was there any that stood out for you? Yeah, I mean, first of the I'm going to talk about the returning champ to time world champ Fernando Alonso. Yes, I'm doing the dance, folks, I know you can't see it. That man, obviously, is weird.

They show, they cut to him on the start-finger straight when we were building up for the formation lap. He was sat in the car, visor up, and you add, it was, you know, it's Fernando Alonso. You could look at him and you're like, that is Fernando Alonso. And I felt like, wow, I don't realize how much I missed seeing that on the grid. It was great. He was so cool.

And it was really good. The strategy wasn't brilliant, but he was right back in there with the action. He was comfortably quick enough. He was fighting will-to-will with people brilliantly. He was straight backing with it. He can only improve. That's the scary thing. I feel like Fernando, by race six or seven, it's going to be a real threat to a lot of these cars if Alpine can be a competitive outfit.

So I think really good stuff for Fernando also. The person that impressed me the most alongside Sergio Perez was Little Yuki Sengoda. I have not seen that much confidence from a debut drive as I had since we've basically seen Lewis Hamilton step into the McLaren over a decade ago now. It was brilliant all weekend from him. No expectations. He was easily on par with Gasly. He outroved Gazley in this race because Gazley was a Muppet driving into the back of the McLaren and ruining his own race on the first bloody lap. What a fall.

Muppet. Muppet. I don't know where that Alpha Tauri really sits either. It's a very confusing pace tie. It was kind of brilliantly quick one moment, really not quick another moment. He got points. He was chucking in the overtakes. He overtook the two-time world champ for Andrew Alonso.

Like, someone had decided to pop down their dinner and then run past it. Like, the dinner doesn't have legs or wheels. I do. So I can run past it easily. You have no, right? Just can you see, mate. It's been a while since we've met out because of COVID. So things have changed.

Honestly, he was great. He was absolutely brilliant, and I'm chuffed. I'm chuffed to see him really turn up that performance. I hope he can carry that through the season. In terms of bad, though, Seby Vett was worse driving the day, really gutted with him,

hope he could turn that around. Cycles was a bit underwhelming. Put some good moves on. Wasn't the worst on there at all. Hang a good race, but he could have asked him to LeClau. It wasn't ideal. But it was good to see him.

I think P8 he finished, which isn't too shabby. And Ricardo, I expected a little bit more from Ricardo. he was a bit off the place of Norris, which is a bit of a shame. But again, I think he leads into it, got very good points for the team.

It's the first of 23 races. There's a lot of points to make up for. So overall, up and down the grid, there were some big differences between the teams. Any debuting drivers, Harry, that took your eye for better or worse? Yeah, I mean, already mentioned little Yuki. He does drive with so much confidence already.

I think, and I know I am the, ahead of the Fernando Alonzo fan club, but Alpine did not deserve to be in the top 10 sheets out, my opinion. And he absolutely rinsed Ocon. I know he retired in the end, but I think Ockon wasn't even close to the same pace. So I don't know O'KN got a bit of a punt from Seb. But yeah, Alonzo, just being Mr. Alonzo, as he always is.

And, you know, people before Q1 were saying he might not even make out of the first session. who else? I think Science was where I expected him to be. I think it was kind of solid. I think that pace will come. I didn't think Ricardo's race was quite, like weekend was quite as, it wasn't, I wasn't a bad weekend. I mean, he aren't qualified Norris.

And I think he was hurt slightly by being the second car on track because he got me lost out at the start. And so through that first pit stop face, he fell back. But, you know, I think it was a solid debut. Who else is new? So many new drivers. Yeah, that's probably the ones that stand out the most. I mean, the house drivers were, yeah, Mazepin was in the wall.

Schumacher had a spin. It was going off to Abidabie. But, yeah, I think they're the only ones. Yeah, I mean, for me, I'll echo what you said on Alonzo. It's great to see him back in Formula One. It's where he belongs. And ultimately, I think the race pace of that Alpine, at least around Bahrain, it remains to be seen

whether that continues on to other rounds as well. The race pace, it didn't seem like it was up there with the other members of the midfield. And hopefully for their sake, it turns around, but it does seem as if it might be them against Alpha Romeo, even possibly. Of course, Ocon did lose out to both of the Alpha Ramo's in that Grand Prix.

Sonoda, yeah, did a brilliant job. I think for rookie drivers, not even just in their first race, but really in their first season, and it's not necessarily all about the results. It's more about the signs of being capable of the results. I think arguably that Al-Fa-Tauri, it was very quick. It looked pretty, pretty pacey. And I think, you know, if you were to say,

was that Al-Fa-Tari capable of finishing P-6, regardless of driver, I think the answer is probably yes, maybe even higher than that based on what Gassley was able to do in qualifying. So, you know, I don't think P-9, without any context, is an incredible result, but it's what he was able to show. You know, Q2 didn't go as he wanted, but he's a rookie driver, things like that are going to happen. It's inevitable. He had a good race, nonetheless. And Carlos Seins, I was actually pretty impressed by Carlos Seines. I think he did a good

job. You know, Q3, Leclair turned into a god because that's what LeClaire does. But in the race, I mean, Carlos Seins kept it fairly close. I'm not quite sure what it was at the end. I think it was about 10 seconds or so between the two drivers, which for a debut race for Ferrari against the likes of Leclair, I don't think that's a shoddy effort. So I think he did fine. And I don't know why Mazapin's getting all this hate for a bad race. I think he did a brilliant job.

I mean, if you can point out one mistake he made from lap two through to lap 56, I will say, you're right, fair enough. I bet you can't find one mistake he made in the last 55 laps of that Grand Prix. It's a fair point. It's a fair cop, Ben. Not turning up. Room for improvement, I think, might be the phrase to use there. Nice.

That's polite, yeah. Diplomatic. Yeah, well done. Well, I mean, I can't believe it, but we've got another three weeks to wait for the Italian maiden pizza, San Marino, Grand Prix, or whatever it's being called. I want to make Italians hate you. That's what the podcast is now called.

I know this made me think of Crofty because he's going to really struggle with this, but did anyone notice when he said that Mazepin was out of the race because of suspected crashing problems? Great line from Crofty. When Crofty eventually gets to a very, very, very old age and Sagney passes away, and we play Crofty's greatest bits,

that might be in there, just because we had that brilliant tribute to Murray, of course, at the start of this race. Croftiesms, they may dub them. You know what, Sherlock Croft? I think you're on to something there. I think you might be right. We'll leave you with that one then. A great first race there in Bahrain.

Of course, Lewis Hamilton taking the victory ahead of Max Verstappen, and we can only hope that we'll get some more epic duels as we go throughout this 23 race season. But until our next podcast, we will, of course, back. Sam, if you wouldn't mind getting us out of here. Folks, what did you make on the first race? It's back. I mean, you can hear it because I am. That's how ridiculous over this podcast most of the time. If you're watching on the podcast, please go check out the digs on YouTube. Give my like, give me a like, give me a subscribe over there. We are back for the full season,

so make you join us for the huge journey. I am absolutely pumped. I hope your pub is, because it's going to be rather ecstatic. In the meantime, I've been Sammy soon. I've been, Harry. I've been, Harry. and remember, keep breaking late. What? Social Podcast Network.